NASU OAU DISAGREES WITH OTHER STAFF UNIONS ON THEIR DECISION TO JOIN THE STRIKE ACTION.

    Non-Academic Staff of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT) at their national levels had a meeting last weekend in Abuja, where they decided to embark on an indefinite strike as regards the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  signed with both academic and Non-Academic staff unions in 2009, which the Federal government has reneged on it.
    Mr. Peter Adeyemi, the National Secretary of NASU, made it known that the strike action will be determined by the results of the referendum collated at the branches level.
    Due to the outcome of the meeting, the three unions in Obafemi Awolowo University branch  had a meeting on Monday, 28th of August at the Sports complex of the institution in order to conduct a referendum on whether or not to join the proposed indefinite strike.
    A briefing about the decision at the National level was delivered by the National Treasurer of NAAT.
    "The Federal Government has reneged in the agreement they had with us in 2009 and we'll be going on an indefinite strike. They may want to threaten us with 'No work, No pay' but we'll fight against that. Since it's indefinite, it can be two to three months and I hope we are ready for that." she said.
 
    Following the briefing, NASU members expressed their displeasure against the strike action because of the non-committal stance of the NASU national body to the strike, which they declared in January and it lasted for Two months.
 
   "For now, we, NASU OAU, does not have a national body because they didn't respond when they were needed in January. We are not interested in the strike but we'll be joining our other members by principle." Wale Odewumi, Chairman NASU OAU, said.

   Mr Olajide, the Secretary of NASU, OAU branch added that the decision of the National body does not affect them.
   "We don't recognise NASU at the National level. I don't recognise Mr. Peter Adeyemi because they all failed us in January." he said
   Afterwards, many of the NASU members left the meeting after the address of their Chairman, Mr. Wole.
   "If I'm still your Chairman and I'm accountable to you listen to me. If you like, vote in favour of the strike." he stated.
 
   The disagreement became intense as members of the other unions spoke about effect of the strike action. The Chairman of SSANU OAU branch in response to the questions raised by members of NASU, said;

"The Federal Government was the one that breached the agreement according to the MOU signed in 2009. Ours is not to join ASUU strike but to bring the government back to the agreement and make them fulfill it. It will be good if we can unite and fight against the oppression. The crisis in NASU OAU is domestic and should not affect our decision." he said

   After the departure of some NASU members, remaining members of other unions were told to raise up their hands to show if they support the strike action or not. However, only 5 members of the remaining members objected to the indefinite strike.
 
   "OAU NAAT and SSANU support the strike, we will will send the results to them at the National level and await their directives." Mr. Olusoji, NAAT OAU branch representative, said.
 
   Speaking with our correspondent after the voting, Mr. Olajide said;
   " Even if they decide to embark on the strike, NASU OAU branch is not going to join because our national body was not there when we needed them in January, when we embarked on the Two months strike. Are they just waking up from their slumber? Is it because Federal Government has promised ASUU 23 billion naira?. "

    Up till date, as a result of the faction crisis, ASUU OAU has not join their national body in the strike action declared by Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President on August 13.


Olufemi Alfred
Oau Kilonshele News agency
Reporting.....